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As the summer months approach, many Floridians in Jacksonville spend their days partaking in popular hobbies such as boating and jet skiing. The waterways are more crowded than ever with more than one million registered and unregistered vessels in the state of Florida. As a result, unfortunately, accidents on the water are becoming more prevalent.
Two people were injured after a personal water craft (also known as a jet ski) accident in the Jacksonville Intracoastal Waterway. John Bracey, a Fire and Rescue Department spokesman said that two people on a watercraft hit a pole near Butler Boulevard at about 4 p.m. Rescue workers took one passenger to Shands Jacksonville and the other to the Mayo Clinic for treatment. No information on the identities of the patients or the status of their condition was available.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida continues to lead the nation with 982,470 registered vessels in 2009. There were 629 reportable boating accidents in 2009, and 70% of the operators involved had no formal boater education. The main cause of boating fatalities was caused by boaters falling overboard.
Boating and jet skiing can be a great way to spend your summer afternoon if you live in Jacksonville or North Florida, but they can also be just as dangerous as a car if not operated properly. Visit the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s website for more information on Florida boating safety and education. For more information on this topic, see Law & Disorder: 2 hurt in watercraft accident on Intracoastal.